Magnesium is an essential mineral that is involved in myriad body systems and offers many health benefits. Sadly, according to some sources, up to 80% of the population is deficient in this common nutrient!
If you deal with candida, magnesium becomes even more important. People with candida related complex (CRC) require magnesium to help usher candida-generated toxins from the body. One of the main by-products of killing candida is acetaldehyde, a neurotoxin that can cause symptoms that mimic drunkenness, as well as “brain fog.”
Magnesium aids a key enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenaze (try saying that out loud three times!) to convert the toxic acetaldehyde into a more benign form called acetate, which can be flushed out of the body via the normal detoxification channels (normally the kidneys).
But if you deal with candida, you may need even more magnesium than the average person since candida itself eats up magnesium through various means.
In today’s video, I talk about ways to increase magnesium in your diet naturally.
Do you eat some magnesium-rich foods every day? Have you ever noticed a difference when you increase your intake?
Video Highlights:
- Benefits of magnesium in the body
- Three major impacts of magnesium deficiency on people with candida
- Why people with candida need extra magnesium
- Best food sources of magnesium
- Supplementation: how much is too much?
Resources:
- Kale and Seaweed Salad [RECIPE]
- Arame (the mildest–and my favorite–seaweed)
- Kale Salad, Fully Loaded [RECIPE]
- Pumpkinseed Pesto [RECIPE]
- Homemade Superfood Chocolate [RECIPE]
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
- The Sweet Life Health Club for ongoing support
Subscribe for recipes and more about sugar-free living! Click here to subscribe to RickiHeller.com via email. You’ll receive notice of recipes and videos as soon as they’re posted, plus weekly updates and news about upcoming events. A healthy lifestyle CAN be sweet!
[Disclosure: Links in this post may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase using those links, at no cost to you, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.]
Hi! I'm Ricki, cookbook author, professional recipe developer, holistic nutritionist and anti-candida crusader. Let me show you how easy it is to eat plant-based, sugar-free, gluten free food that tastes great! 
Thank you for this video! Magnesium is one nutrient I haven’t been focused on lately. When I was pregnant I took a magnesium supplement, because it supposedly helps prevent swelling. I did feel like it helped me!
You’re so welcome, Becky! I find it really does help with sleep, and stress. 🙂
Thanks so much for this post, it has helped hugely! I was suffering so many of the symptoms, despite eating lots of magnesium rich foods daily for decades, that I’ve taken a supplement for the last few days & can already feel the benefit. Looking forward to trying more of the recipes from this page – the pumpkin seed pesto sounds lovely. I made your baked cranberry oatmeal pudding again at the weekend, delicious using some frozen blackberries from this year’s garden abundance:)
I am so glad to hear this, Charlie! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know. And I’m thrilled that you like the oatmeal pudding–sounds like a fabulous twist with blackberries (how lucky for you to have a garden abundance!! That’s one skill I haven’t quite mastered yet. . .!!) 😉
Thank you, this was the most helpful resource I found. I stumbled into magnesium because I had one leg swelling up as a candida symptom, andvI had magnesium/potassium diuretic pills. Instant improvement. I increased from 240 to 400 to 640, and then one morning woke up with a headache. It became a debilitating migraine, blood pressure high (normally I’m very low), and eventually emotions shot with anxiety. I drank water, delayed a flight, got a massage and went to bed. What on earth happened? I was halfway off the diet due to vacation, and not really hard core anyway, due to not finding the right protocol ir understanding yet. But this was bonkers, I’m not a migraine person. thanks for any help with this, I don’t want to repeat it!
You probably took too much. More isn’t always better! It may be a good idea to consult a doctor, just to be sure you find a balance.
Teresina, so sorry to hear this! As I’m not a doctor, I’m unable to answer this kind of question, but I’d suggest that you do go see your practitioner or a functional medicine doctor who can help you sort it out. I imagine these symptoms would be scary!